Boeing's Phantom Works is leading the effort to demonstrate the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). The three-phase technology demonstration builds on design studies that Boeing had conducted for the laboratory. Flight testing is envisaged around 2006. The 6 m [20 feet] long MOP features short-span wings and trellis-type tails. The 13,600 kg [30,000 lb] weapon contains a 2,700 kg [6,000 lb] explosive charge. MOP is designed to go deeper than any nuclear bunker buster and take out 25 percent of the underground and deeply buried targets. It is expected to penetrate as much as 60 meters [200 feet] through 5,000 psi reinforced concrete. It will burrow 8 meters into the ground through 10,000 psi reinforced concrete. Northrop Grumman is working on with Boeing to develop this conventional bunker buster. They are under contract to Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

The US has been working on 'conventional' deep-penetration weapons for years now, primarily to deal with the North Korea/Iran nuke programmes. The only alternative was just too much to contemplate, even for the Bush administration, but it appears that the conventional route may have worked, as efforts for deep-penetrating nukes have now (AFAIK) been terminated.

Ah a beautiful pic, one of those could and often did granulate an entire Berlin City block. Also it should be noted that when the US President annonced to the US public the dropping of the A Bomb he compared it as being bigger than the 'British Grandslam'. Which indicates that it was well known in the US.

Ah a beautiful pic, one of those could and often did granulate an entire Berlin City block.

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You sure about that? From what Iâve read 617 Sqdrn was very careful about where they dropped those things, as they where as rare as hens teeth, and 617 was Very accurate with SABS.

Anyone got any pictures of that Crater left at the Tunnel of the first Tallboy raid? Now thats impressive!

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Listy, you are correct - the Main Force Bombers would regularly drop 8000 lb "blockbusters" or "cookies" on their raids, along with incendaries. These were little more than dustbins full of TNT. The idea was that the cookies would open up houses and the incendaries would set fire to the wreckage. See Dresden/Hamburg/Cologne for when it worked.

The supply of Tallboys and Grand Slams was very carefully husbanded and used on special targets only.

The Grand Slam is actually very relevant to the role envisaged for this MOP toy... One of its roles was to take out targets like bridges and tunnels by shaking them to bits as a result of delayed initiation after it had penetrated the ground (went supersonic on the way down, IIRC). I'd imagine that, if we could find a spare one tucked away somewhere, and drop it in the middle of an Afghan cave complex, it'd do quite a good job of making sure everyone inside never saw the light of day again. Meanwhile, some 'MOABs' above ground to deafen everyone within a few square miles, and bob's yer uncle..